The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has closed US 641 and KY 91 near the Crittenden-Caldwell County Line, just north of Fredonia.PHOTO:Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, courtesy

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Roads Closed for Connection to New US 641

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FREDONIA - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has closed US 641 and KY 91 near the Crittenden-Caldwell County Line, just north of Fredonia, to allow construction of roadway connections to New US 641.

Existing US 641/KY 91 and New US 641 are expected to remain closed near the 4 mile marker just north of Fredonia in Caldwell County through Friday, December 7th. At this time there is a marked detour via KY 902 and KY 70 that adds about 10 miles to a trip between Marion and Fredonia.

Once the south connector is completed this week, New US 641 will be opened between Fredonia and Marion, as well as the southern connection to the existing roadway near Fredonia.

Once the new southern intersection is completed, the contractor plans to move to the north connecting point where New US 641 meets the exiting roadway south of Marion near the 5 mile marker in Crittenden County for some additional work. The contractor plans to place an asphalt driving surface at the northern connection, remove a temporary traffic diversion, and restore the connection to Coleman Road. However, due to cold weather coming in, the northernmost connection between New US 641 and the existing roadway won’t be able to be completed until the Spring of 2019.

Homeowners near the north end of the existing roadway will connect to New US 641 via Campbell Lane or Weldon Road. Residents of the Crayne Community may access New US 641 via Crayne Cemetery Road to head northward into Marion.

Once New US 641 is opened to 2-lane traffic later this week, all crossroad connections along the new route will be active and fully functional. These crossroads, which include Campbell Lane, Weldon Road, Crayne Cemetery Road, Lloyd Road, Lilly Dale Road, as well as the new southern intersection near Fredonia, will provide connectivity between the new roadway and the existing roadway.

During construction of New US 641, many motorist traveling through the work zone corridor on cross roads have ignored stop signs at intersections. When New US 641 opens to 2-way traffic later this week, motorists need to obey stop signs, use extra caution, and be prepared to encounter cross-traffic traveling at 55 miles per hour. Motorists should be aware of changes in traffic flow that opening of the new highway will bring to southern Crittenden County. Appropriate caution is required.

The contractor and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will attempt to provide timely notice when construction of the new connecting point between New US 641 and the existing roadway are completed near Fredonia and New US 641 is opened to 2-way traffic between Marion and Fredonia.

Rogers Group, Inc, is the prime contractor on this $14.2 million project to pave 2 lanes of the New US 641 and finish out permanent connecting points to the existing highway.

The 5.5-mile reconstruction project is the first step in the reconstruction of US 641 from Marion to Eddyville to provide Crittenden County industries a viable truck route to reach I-69 and I-24 near Eddyville.